Heartbreaker

Not. Bryan. Adams.

I enjoyed this a lot, high 4

Cool!! Helped me branch out.

# Album Name: Heartbreaker # Artist: Ryan Adams # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Honestly, ive heard of the name, but never listened to any of his stuff. Personally, i thought this was a great album. Very raw alternative americana feel. Lots of good songs. I'd probably give it a 4.5 so itll have to be a 5 based on this rating system. Its not up their with my best albums by any means but i did thoroughly enjoy it. After looking at the comments, it seems like this geezer has a very coloured past and is a true 1/5 person. # Top Tunes: TBY / Winding wheel / Amy / Carolina / Way back home / pick me up / 9th # Would I listen to it again? Yes

The world is flooded with pasta and cheese. It comes in boxes with just-add-water-powder. And it fills space no matter how inconsiderately it is assembled. But a soul with the right intentions, and capable hands, and a longing for perfection can perform alchemy on pasta, cheese, olive oil and black pepper. Cacio e pepe is a simple dish. People presume it is simple to make. But alchemy is not simple. Because of the simplicity of the dish's composition, there is nowhere to hide the slightest defect in composition, ingredient, or execution. Slavish technical perfection and creativity are required. So it is with Americana music. Like blues (and hell, country and most rock and roll) its fundamentals are so simple in concept that incurious musicians are convinced that it is easy to make. And so the world is flooded with boxes of Americana filled with mass-produced sound that fills space. But a determined soul, with a curious mind and deft hands can turn those simple concepts into something other-worldly; offering an experience that is impossible to describe or explain.

Fantastic album

Great. Big. Bum. Yeah u know Ryan sucks a lot. Fortunately I’m pretty good at separating artist from art. I am capable of appreciating this album, but I fully understand if you aren’t.

What a beautiful album! I might have found it too depressing if I wasn't going through it right now, but today it felt right I'd never heard of this guy and it was disappointing to see all the stuff about him online. Unfortunately you can't deny talent but we can call out disgusting behaviour 5 ⭐️ (musically)

This was so relaxing. Perfect for chilled, cozy evenings

It’s a damn good album. He just really fucking sucks. I haven’t listened to it since news broke about Adams….just as good as I remember it.

Despite all that’s happened with Ryan since this is still an undeniably amazing album. I would put this in my own top 50 easily. Beautiful songs, arrangements, playing and all with a natural and rootsy production. A true modern classic.

Solid coffee shop music. First time listening to this artist, as far as I can tell. Pretty enjoyable album.

A visionary, a master lyricist, a southern dandy, perhaps a major creep but this is an album you can't deny.

Ngl... His first three albums are favorites of mine... Along with *Cold Roses*, *Easy Tiger*, and the 2014 eponymous. Another one where I have to separate there art from the artist. 9.8 ★★★★½

It's a shame Ryan Adams turned out to be such a turd, because this is a fantastic album. For my money, it's one of the best alt-country albums ever. There's elements of 70s Americana and Dylan-esque folk with a nice raw edge to it. Gillian Welsh and David Rawlings act as Adams' backing band here and the album sounds excellent throughout. It's sparse, but there's also some really cool subtle production elements. Emmylou Harris, Kim Richey, and Allison Pierce also show up for some great guest spots. Highlights for me are "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)", "Why Do They Leave", "Call Me On Your Way Back Home" (I love the drums and harmonica coming in at the end here), "My Sweet Carolina", and "Come Pick Me Up". 5 stars.

Love this!

All killer, no filler. This was a very transformative record for me, one that made me say, "I should get a guitar" accidentally out loud in my cubicle, and the guy in the next one sold me his for $10 and it led me to who I am today. I can still sing every word of this thing, which made it feel personal when it was revealed what a scumbag normal old predator rock star he is. But, if you can separate the art from the artist (I manage to compartmentalize enough to still love the monsters that are the Rolling Stones) this record is a must.

I’m at a 5. Just a sad album, huh? I feel a bit emotionally spent after that. We’ve already gotten “Gold” from Ryan Adams in the past, and that album feels like an attempt to be a diet Bruce Springsteen by comparison. A nice 70 minutes to listen to, yes, but it doesn’t quite have the same emotional pull this album does. This is a wonderfully written album by comparison to “Gold”, with really only two tracks biting at me: “Amy”, which just feels too personal given that it’s the real name of his ex who inspired this album, and “Why Do They Leave?”, because it’s just too heavy on the “woe is me” side of things. A couple of nitpicks are on other tracks, but nothing that’s ever too bad. Overall, I genuinely thought this entire album did a great job of evoking the imagery it’s going for. It’s all enhanced further by the production, which usually knows when to let Ryan shine in his most intimate moments, and when to let the instrumentation guide the mood, especially so on the showstealer that is “In My Time of Need”. That's a beautiful track. I will forever be a sucker for “old” country, and while this straddles the line just a little bit, for the most part, it feels like an updated version of that general sound & style, ala Emmylou Harris’s “Red Dirt Girl”. It’s no surprise then that she’s on this album as a backing vocalist, and one of the members of her band produced this entire thing. I adore the instrumentals on this album, though I do have one complaint: that damn harmonica pops up when it just doesn’t need to. I normally love a good harmonica segment, and it’s used well at times, but there are moments where just wallowing in the silence a little bit would be more emotionally effective, and really let the song soak in. Other than that harmonica, I cannot think of a single complaint. Praise all abound for the instrumentals. Vocally, while Ryan Adams doesn’t do anything *too* differently from “Gold”, his slightly shaken sense of confidence, coming off of the break-up that inspired this album… you can feel it on the more personal tracks here. Outside of “Amy”, which felt a little uncomfortable, I love the intimacy & softer tone he approaches these tracks with. A lot of them feel mostly acapella, save for some slight guitar, so he’s baring his soul, in a sense. When it’s at its very best, it’s emotionally gripping in a way that feels far too captivating to ignore. When he needs to belt though, he belts pretty well – still a little bit of that “diet Springsteen” vibe, but he generally tends to evoke the country stars of the past, especially Johnny Cash on “Damn, Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains)”. All in all, I’d say the music speaks for itself really well here, and I think feeling the emotions this drags out are more effective than reading about it. If you’re predisposed to country music, you’ll enjoy this a lot. If not, then… I dunno, at least give this a try. If you somehow haven’t heard it, go listen to it with headphones in, and let Ryan's vocals & this excellent production wash over you. It is a great country album, and to my ears, a much tighter & more fulfilling album than “Gold” was. For my tastes, a very easy 5. P.S.: I’m now aware of the allegations made against Ryan Adams. It sucks, and if they’re true, he sucks even more. I’m partially more willing to separate art from artist here, just because I never had a deeper connection to the guy before listening to him via the list, so just know that an endorsement of a 5 for this album is anything but an endorsement of the man himself, no matter how good his damn writing seems to be here. It’s worth a listen, but it’s not worth giving him a dime.

I could do without the stupid Morrisey argument at the start of the album. It's a shame too because it keeps To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) off best first track on a debut album consideration. Maybe that's a technical disqualification, but rules are rules. Dylan, Wilco, Elliott Smith...you can hear all of them in this. It's a good start. The Head and The Heart should send him royalty checks the way Robin Thicke and Pharrell have to send Marvin Gaye's no talent kids a check for Blurred Lines because for a minute I thought they might be a side project of Ryan Adams. Damien Rice for that matter too. How is he not more well known? This album is great. Iron and Wine and Ray LaMontagne have a similar sound too.

Great americana album

I wanted SO BAD to shit on this bc I love Phoebe Bridgers like a sister but FUCK WHY IS IT SO FUCKING GOOD???? FUCK! I listened to the whole thing 3x in a row. Ryan is a piece of shit (Phoebe wrote MOTION SICKNESS ABOUT HIM!!!! "I HATE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID / AND I MISS YOU LIKE A LITTLE KID") but fuck, Heartbreaker is a no-skip masterpiece. fuck. it's like bob dylan if his songs were actually good. I loved it. FUCK!

It was ok. Kind of nostalgic

Loved this!! This is what I wanted Noah Khan to be but he just isnt it for me overall.

9/10

I've got to be honest - this album hit me at a particular time when I was 20, heart broken and drinking away my blues. It was perfect for that time and it's still great now. I've a weakness for alt-country and there was a short time where Ryan Adams could do no wrong. This album is for late night ruminating, maybe drinking too much whiskey and wallowing in regrets - enjoy while it lasts and once it's over, give yourself a kick up the arse and start enjoying life again. Misery loves company, but you have to move on - that's what this album is really about. Best Tracks: To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High); Oh My Sweet Caroline, Come Pick Me Up

5/10

5 stars; will download this to my phone

One of my absolute favorite albums!!

Solid

This album really won me over. I’d heard of Ryan Adams but never dug into his music until this album. I went in with no expectations, thinking I’d either love it or not connect at all—and thankfully it’s a gem. It’s rooted in alt-country and indie folk, with a raw unpolished production that gives it a gritty roots-rock edge. The songs are mostly intimate and mellow, carried by delicate acoustic fingerpicking, while piano and organ gives it this warm, atmospheric vibe. A few upbeat tracks bring out some lively spark, that rounding out the mood beautifully.

4.9 - He really is a world class song writer and honestly I think this is a timeless album. He's such a weirdo but can't deny the incredible musician

Well hey, there's the heartbroken soundtrack to my late 20s and early 30s. Great album.

🌟

Every couple of years, I try to get into country music. The first time I did that in the early 2010s, I figured that I should start with a subgenre that is close to the music I actually like, so, because of alt-country’s proximity to punk music, I figured I’d start there, and a quick google search led me to Ryan Adams’ Heartbreaker. And I don’t know what to say. While it wasn’t what I was looking for back then, it’s hard to deny that Adams is a great songwriter, and these songs are timeless. This is a quintessential heartbreak album, and one oozing emotion with every guitar strum. While it’s got a little bit of bloat and his style can start to feel repetitive, I think the material stands on its own. For obvious reasons, I rarely revisit this album any more, and I also don’t need to, emotionally-speaking, but this listen confirmed that it is still great country music that anyone can enjoy. Good songs are good songs are good songs, and Heartbreaker is filled with them.

Amazing. Killer. Greatness

A beautiful masterpiece. Im not into folk or country pop bit this album is absolutely a diamond. I loved it and the storytelling was great I suffered what this dude was all sappy about. I hate whoever did Ryan dirty.

Loved it. Inject it straight into my veins. Come Pick Me Up is 10/10.

What an incredible album. When you're young you get sad is such a stellar track, but the whole thing is filled with artistry, emotion, poetry, and more. One of the better discoveries in this project

I listened to this record a ton after it came out. It's as close to a personal classic as you can get. Love it forever.

Excellent. I enjoyed listening to this one immensely! Somber, solemn, exciting, cohesive - I felt like this all came together nicely. 'Come Pick Me Up' was my fave here. Side note, I ended up falling into a rabbit hole and listening to "Orion" - which is a metal album from this guy. It's on YouTube - and not half-bad. I recommend giving it a try if you have any passing interest - it felt weirdly unique and it's probably a lot more obscure than it ought to be.

Very very good, would listen to this again. Good broken heart album

It wasn't the album I wanted and ended up being the one I needed. I get it now.

2000. Alternative country, roots rock

A slow monday morning was probably the perfect time for this album. Lovely country vibes, gorgeous slow songs. Will definitely have to check out more of his stuff.

Excellent Americana album. Great contributions from Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, and others.

Songs with the right hooks, tasteful instrumentation and very appealing vocals: a personal favourite indeed.

5/5. This is a sweet album to listen, very country and quiet for the most part but beautiful songwriting. A great breakup album honestly and really fits the aesthetic it is going for. I am finding out more that this man is a country artist when I always thought he was rock. Glad I was introduced to these, bypassing the recent releases. Hard to find any fault on this one, it is just a series of great songs and a wonderful album front to back to listen to. Also, I am rating this on the listening of the album since that is the point of this list. Best Song: To Be Young, Oh My Sweet Carolina, In My Time of Need, Why Do They Leave?

Favorite Track: Oh My Sweet Carolina

4/5

His voice works for me. and the gentle guitar. As does his playful willingness to do very different stuff from U2 to Taylor Swift's 1989. Curious as to why I like his music despite the 'country' sound. Pure enough. Interesting enough lyrics. open to more. at least a 4. on the 'definitely listen to more' pile.

Day180 - highly enjoyable album and i don’t think it’s his best album. i never get tired of “to be young”

Really good, I want to hear more

Content

Don't know anything about Ryan Adams's personal life, but most of the reviewers on this site write how shitty he is. But I'm here to listen to somewhat significant musical œuvres of modern age and rank them, not to ramble about how shitty as a person the artist is. This is a good country-rock album, and I had a great time listening to it.

One of my favorite songwriters of the past 20 years. Too bad he got caught up in some cancel culture hype. Is he a saint, nope. But I still enjoy his music. And is releasing tons of music... although the media will not mention it. Good stuff... just stay away from the recent singles of live covers.

This is not what I was expecting. I think I have always assumed Bryan Adams and Ryan Adams were the same person. This has a great alternative country feel that I loved. I don't know if it is quite full marks, but is at least a high four stars. Oh My Sweet Carolina was my favorite. After a second listen I think this definitely gets a 5 from me.

One of my all time favorites

To Be Young My winding Wheel Amy Oh My Sweet Carolina Bartering Lines Call Me On Your Way Back Home Come Pick Me Up Why Do They Leave Shakedown on 9th Street In My Time of Need Dare I say a master piece. Banger after banger. Beautiful voice. Beautiful guitar. Can understand the lyrics. Great vibe behind the album.

This is really, really good. I love the choice timings for harmonies. Occasionally there's some really interesting and great chord choices. The instrumentation and vocals pair together wonderfully. There's not a single miss on the album, and there's some really, really good songs that push it over the top for me.

Something about Ryan Adams that speaks to me. Maybe its that we're from the same hometown and grew up miles apart. Who knows. I do love all his music though!

Very cool sound.

A little like Bob Dylan. How'd I miss this guy before?

I really loved this album. SORRY YOU HAD TO BE A DICK, RYAN. I hope you figure it out.

Liked this way more than I expected. I’m not sure if Ryan was an inspiration for Jack White, but I felt like I could hear Jack taking some root in songs like Shakedown on 9th Street. Great lyrics and the kind of guitar playing that really makes you want to pick up an acoustic guitar and struggle through gaining your first calloused fingertips for the sake of learning to play.

Another new album for me that I love! Great story telling great melodies! 5/5

who knows wtf is ryan adams. His later work doesn't do it for me, but I'll admit to listening to this album mmore than once!

Surprise, surprise, I really love this album. By far my favorite of the his solo albums and the one that I think holds up the best.

Probably the album that allowed me to enjoy some country vibes with my rock n roll.

Couldn't bring myself to stream it because Ryan Adams is a POS... That said, I loved this album back in college when it came out, was on super heavy rotation so I've heard it enough to know my rating. I'm trying to keep these ratings focused on the specific album only, not the person... so it's a 5 (all-time classic).

Very good chill music

Great album by a huge piece of shite.

Ryan Adams is a brilliant lyricist. He may be a petulant jerk, but his music is great. While this isn't quite as good as Gold or some of his other later albums, it is still excellent. I would give it a 4.5 to leave room for Gold, but I'll round up.

One of the first times since we started doing this that I had the album on repeat all day. Phenomenal. I’m obviously in more of an emotional state to connect with these lyrics than anyone in the group as far as I know, but I think they are objectively very good. Combined with the music here (taking from folk, country, and rock) Ryan Adams is almost like a more contemporary Bob Dylan here. It’s a massive shame that he was also a creep and/or emotionally abusive partner. My favorites are “Come Pick Me Up” and “Call Me on Your Way Back Home. Both are devastatingly beautiful.

Amazing

When I was in college, I had a friend who got really into Ryan Adams. At the time, I was diving down my own rabbit hole of metal and hardcore so I wasn't interested in this soft-spoken singer songwriter stuff. Now, with the benefit of age, I can truly appreciate the skill and talent of Mr..Adams. This is a great album. Beautiful writing, fantastic performance, dang near perfect production. Great all the way around. My buddy was right. This is really good

Forgot how good this album is, a modern country classic.

Drags a bit in the middle but overall really terrific.

An old favourite.

Vraiment un super album que je connaissais pas. Enfin un petit truc nouveau a me mettre sous la dent. j'ai beaucoup apprécié ! 5

If I'm just judging the music and not the man... easy 5.

baita sonzao, já pela primeira se vê, pegada folk/country vozerao

This and his next two albums have some phenomenal songs on them.

Haven't heard Bryan Adams outside When You're Gone, so the album was a pleasant surprise. A lot of folk influences was heard and welcomed.

I love this album.

Dylanesque? This is really good. Would you call it Neo-country? It's not normally my thing but it's beautifully balanced with a laid-back vibe that's floats along seamlessly from track to track. Reading the reviews it seems there's a lot of people hung-up about his nastiness. Well he doesn't strike me as a saint but can you point me in the direction of someone living his lifestyle who's never acted like a jerk? Trendy chattering classes......

Oh man, this guy is a creep? What a shame. Great record.

Ryan Adams is not a pleasant guy. I saw him live this year and it was a bummer to see a guy on stage that was mainly complaining about the audience and making very depressing cynical jokes. Still Heartbreaker and Gold are terrific albums with great songs.

I know he's reportedly a big-league asshole, but I love this guy's music. This is clearly (in my opinion) his best album. There isn't a song on here that I don't love. I listened to the whole album twice. It's so good.

no es el brian

Accomplished

Topp kvalitet. Svært bra musikk til å ha i bakgrunnen. Skal høre det en gang til og plukke ut sanger til tut tut

Knew Ryan Adams had something of a cult like following. Now I realize why. This was so so good.

First track with Dave Rawlings is brilliant, next two tracks ok

Really great

This was sweet and amazing! Loved it start to finish.

mid

6/5 - wow. That album was absolutely stellar

surprisingly good

A brilliant album from a brilliant artist.

Bluegrass, mellow. Enjoyable 10

Es un buen álbum, muy suave y delicado, tiene lo suyo y me recuerda a Taylor Swift. La verdad es algo que puedes escuchar en un día tranquilo, me encanta, se apega mucho a mis gustos y es muy Indie/Country.

A fucking + Love this one. Gold was the album that made me fall in love with his music, but this one made me open my eyes and say “Holy SHIT”!

I liked this. Some really good songs on here. I think I might dig into a bit more Ryan Adams.

I will admit to not listening as close as I should. But this was good working/ reading music. I’ll flag this to listen to again.

Super fedt album. Kan mærke han følelser helt ude gennem højtalerne. God blanding af stille og skaldede numre

excellent loved it

Wow the court of social media has found guilty and sentenced this guy, no mistake. Not condoning the allegations or anyone actually involved, their pain, he may very well be a bit of a creep but reading he hasn’t been charged with anything. Its funny how other artists with worst allegations or even criminal charges don’t appear quite so damned on here. Cough virtue signalling, Know that ain’t about music, but it kind of is if you like the artist, no one was calling out led Zep in their album review the other day and they bragged about their dubious exploits in the past when it was ok to do so. It is hypocrisy, so stop the virtue signalling always when it fits. People are complicated but everything is not binary, and yeah maybe society gives too much power to the wrong people most of the time. Anyway This is a good Americana album, falls into too maudlin at times to be great, but he can write songs and give a “vulnerable “ delivery. 4 Star

Bom, vale a pena conferir outros álbuns

This makes me want to order a single malt at a rundown saloon in an old timey Wild West town. Songwriting and vocals are great, but it’s quite bloated

The first half was incredible. The second half didn’t feel the same for some reason. Overall, I really liked how quiet and peaceful this record is. I don’t mind harmonica in small amounts, but I think there’s too much here. And since the instruments are quiet, I think his voice does a ton of the heavy lifting here, but in a good way! I enjoyed the Emmylou Harris harmonizations as well!

suprisingly good? i was scared at first, in my head i thought - not another white guy singing classical-ish rock in the 2000s. but it was good, it was playful and deep

Dunno who this guy is or why people hate him but this album sounds good.

come pick me up is still so good

Me gustó bastante, son unas baladitas super trankas y piolas. Buen rock and roll, un par de temas me los agregue a la playlist. 8/10

Their band seems to have fun playing together Good guitar and harmonies I like this style of music Very retro vibes. Several tracks (Amy) would fit in pretty well in the 60s. Also very country at times, bluegrassy (Bartering Lines, Call Me on Your Way Back Home). Ok, this is definitely country, except with more cursing I enjoyed it

Has a strong folksy beginning that gives me some Eddie Vedder flashbacks watching Into the Wild. His voice has got that raspy quality that most Indie folk singers have these days and he pulls it off well. When the energy slows down in the middle/ back half of the album is where I think it loses some of the charm but it stays cohesive and on track the whole time.

Blind album and artist. What a treat of an album. Beautifully put together, flow was great from track to track, loved the intro/skit lead in, bluesy folk style is always a great style, but the energy brought and the consistency across the whole album makes me feel like this album deserves to be higher. This doesnt blow my brain per se, but this is better than most. 4.

Ryan Adams may be a horrid abusive prick, but this album is really lovely. Gentle alt-country vibes, nice melodies, just really enjoyable.

Some solid styling and lyrics. I will give this a 4 because I like it. Although it is probably more a 3 overall. Just very competently done.

Really liked it. Never listened to him before

Man they are a lot of keyboard warriors here who think their reviews are changing the damn world. Sometimes you have to be able to separate the artist from the art or you really can’t listen to much music at all… Ryan was the gateway to more country influenced rock that ultimately got me to Americana and Bluegrass. This album is a pretty damn good example from the era. Songwriting, collaboration and production come together for a pure 2000s experience. He is definitely the master of the Americana song from the era, whatever that even means. Mega hits on this with solid songs between spanning human emotion and experience.

Pitäisi kuunnella uudestaan. Parempi kuin ajattelin. 3,75/5.

Terrible person. Great album.

Right out of the gate this one wears its, Bringing it all Back Home mid 60s era Bob Dylan, influence on it's sleeve; not that I'm complaining and I think this is a brilliant album. A bit derivative, (Dylan, Young, Gram Parsons) but packed with great songwriting and excellent (yes, we all played in the same room when we recorded this) musicianship. It just sounds like they had a great time making this. I love the always superb David Rawlings contribution on guitar and backing vocals, and especially Emmylou Harris singing duet harmonies... Very classy.

Ble positivt overrasket. Absolutt en plate jeg kan sette på en søndag morgen. Behagelig lydbilde og fin stemme.

Har aldri satt mæ inn i Ryan Adams, bare hørt en låt her og der. Det her va jo fint. Albumet savne noen låte som åpningssporet. Snill firer

Why does it seem like the world's shittiest people are the ones who make the best art? Not always, sometimes the art is equally shitty; but the art is great often enough to make me very disappointed.

Realmente sorprendido, buena musica, no conocía a este cantante, algo de country, es un Bob Dylan mas actualizado. Algunas canciones me hacen acordar a Silvio Rodríguez, muy bueno!

“Heartbreaker” by Ryan Adams is a very solid, well-crafted singer-songwriter album—not particularly exciting or innovative, but without any notable weaknesses. The songs could use a little more drive, but otherwise...

This may be the artist/album that really solidified the importance of separating the artist from the art. It would be a shame to not listen to this incredible collection of songs just because of the personal issues of the creator. If we force our artists to be rational, well-behaving members of society then we should be prepared for a ton of mediocre art.

Such a great album.

Me encanta la armónica. Es una mezcl de folk-rock que me re gustó

a quite laid-back country album. the album was made shortly after a break-up with both a music partner and the band that he was in. it's considered to be a brand new start for adams, and you can hear it in this album. out of all the country stuff i've listened to... this one is surprisingly VERY tolerable. like seriously, one of those few instances where i wasn't turned off by what i heard at all. it's very authentic compared to some of the other stuff i've heard.

Surprisingly enjoyable

super solid album

This album is good, the better songs seems towards the middle of the album. It's made so earnestly. Feels honest and emotional. I respect it. 3.8/5

buen descubrimiento

I find it funny (in a jaded, cynical way) how so many people are hating on this album bc Ryan Adams made some awful choices that hurt people, and yet they'll listen to Dr. Dre or Marilyn Manson or Eminem and fawn over that. Don't act like you're better than this guy. Stop it. Also learn to separate the art from the artist, at least a little bit. The album was really great, really vibed with it, loved the melancholy stripped down feel. The second half kinda dragged a bit but still was really solid. I feel like his voice fits very well for this. Didn't feel like the time was too long or that the album overstayed its welcome.

First song is the best one, legit banger. The rest kinda fade into the background.

I will begrudgingly give 4 stars because I enjoy the album but the guy gets negative a million stars.

This was actually really good. The other Ryan Adams album felt like it dragged a bit, but this one had better pacing and flow, as well as some really nice tender moments.

Quite liked this one tbf, my top songs were ‘To be young’, ‘Bartering lines’ and ‘Why do they leave?’. I thought overall it provided a good vibe some more upbeat songs and some more emotional ones. The instrumentals and vocals are both pretty good. A couple songs sounded similar and there was a little bit too much harmonica in the second half. All in all, a 4 star album from me (on the lower end of 4), the overall experience was enjoyable, and I definitely will listen to some of the songs again just perhaps not the whole album.

Myślę, że moją największą przywarą jest to, że przemawia do mnie muzyka tego gościa. Tak bardzo nie chcę, aby mi się podobała, ale jego Dylanowy vibe i aura barda naszych czasów niestety działa na mnie jak kocimiętka. 7/10

This is one of the best singer-songwriter albums I've heard so far. It's not my favorite genre because of how minimal it can be, but it really works here. His voice isn't always the best, but it can be really good and the backing vocals add a lot. The lyrics are really good and this album makes you think. I like that.

A tough one to grade. I really thought I’d go five here, but after a couple fresh listens it’s just a tad bloated. There’s a 5-star, 11 track album somewhere in here. Anyway, Adams showcases some truly stunning songwriting across the album. 5 or 6 tracks are enduring classics and beacons of the 2000s singer-songwriter boom. For a long time he was a favorite of mine that seemed to have a great career going, but sadly this was the peak.

Favorite Track: Oh My Sweet Carolina

Great. I really didn't know what his music sounded like but I listened to this a few times to get a good idea

The album takes me back. Forgot it even existed and how good Oh My Sweet Carolina is.

Surprised by how much I liked this. I’ve tried Adam’s before but it never clicked. This one did.

this eats. i didn't know he existed but sure glad i know now. hes folky country which i love type shit

There are more terrible people on this list than not I’d imagine. If your rule is: “I don’t listen to music by bad people,” then you can’t really do this project. If your rule is: “I don’t listen to music by people (1) who are bad enough; (2) and who did their bad things at such a time; (3) and whose bad things were the right type of bad things, to result in people on the internet regularly saying they are bad people,” well, that’s just kind of a weird rule. This is a great album by an awful person. That happens sometimes. Life is complicated.

Beautiful album. I try to separate the art from the artist in most cases, so I focus solely on the album itself. In this case, the album was good. I can’t wait to listen again.

More than a few amazing tracks (Come Pick Me Up, To Be Young, My Winding Wheel, Oh My Sweet Carolina). The others are still good. Maybe a bit too down tempo, especially toward the end of the album. Love this overall.

Pretty cool. Very country tinged but still rocking.

The tone of this album is very casual and makes me feel cozy. Country or folk or somewhere in between, I appreciate the cowboy motifs. Feels like stopping at a sideroad wooden cabin bar in the middle of a one-man bittersweet roadtrip, drinking your worries and problems away. Mixing the dread of the past, the uncertainty of the future. Hope for a new beggining and the sweet tang of familiar memories. No one minds your presence, giving you just enough attention to not make you invisible while leaving you to ruminate your own thoughts. Only 4 or 5 other people frequent the establishment. Despite the differences in each's journey, there is a mutual understanding of the weight you all carry, and their ignorance falls swiftly like a warm blanket. They might not known what you went through, but they comprehend you're better if left alone.

My friends had really been into Ryan Adams back in the early aughts, and his music completely blew by me. I can’t believe I’ve never listened to this before. It’s like if Dylan and Damien Rice collided. I’ll definitely be listening to this more.

Ryan Adams is a scumbag, but this album is good. Fourteen songs, two of which are top-tier and maybe six more that are well worthwhile, IMO.

this is a perfect album that im so kind of torn up about loving. frozen in time, it is perfect. in retrospect, less so. Also minus one star for the reissue with all the rearranged songs

This could be a modern record if i didnt know any better. Id assume its a new singer songwriter cd in The vein of Zach byran or something of that ilk. I really had a good time with this one. Its simple but just honed to the finest point. And I just had his second record very recently and that was decently fun but nothing to this degree. This was great. The guitar is good, the singing is even better, and he has this woman vocalist doing backups and they mesh together so well. Its just a pretty set of tracks. I think oh my sweet Carolina was my favorite track but I saved a handful more. And the ones I didnt are all very good in of themselves. A very very good record for sure. Not exactly my favorite type of thing in the world but an excellent example in this lane

I always forget how good his songwriting is until I go back and pay attention

He might be a POS but the kid can write a song. Bring back Whiskeytown!

Oh, pretty boy Bob Dylan got to me in the semi-darkness of a cold Monday morning

Love this!

Harmonica sentral

Chill throughout. Love the harmonica parts. Fave is Come Pick Me Up.

The dude sucks. But the music is good.

This has some really beautiful moments, and the instrumentation is great. But there’s something about the songwriting that doesn’t click for me. I’m not sure if it’s the song structure, lyrics, or delivery, but despite having all the right pieces, it just doesn’t come together for me.

Was surprised how much I liked this!

This guy is underrated. I never knew this album existed and I’m already in love with it.

To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) is what is says on the tin, and it perfectly encapsulates that experience. Gold star for it. My winding wheel is transitional. Amy is so pretty, you can feel the love that was put into writing it. Oh My Sweet Carolina was written for me. Bartering Lines, my beloved. Call Me on Your Way Back Home and Damn Sam ( I Love a Woman That Rains), can this man please stop yearning, I can't be that lesbian on a Monday, I have things to do. Come Pick Me Up, oh, oh,oh! More yearning. Very sad at Don't Ask for the Water and In My Time of Need. Overall sad, profound, makes you long for home or the person that feels most like it.

this holds up

For as much as I'm averse to country I fucking love relatively-contemporary folk music. Calling this genre "alternative country" is so pretentious. Just say folk you cowards.

Beautiful songs performed very well. Great album.

3.5

If the secular church of America needed a spiritually leader, Ryan Adams could be the Pope. There was something so Americana about this album. It was kind of like he harnessed the best of Springsteen, La Montagne, Dylan (even some of his less fabulous droning harmonica) and added a little bit of his magic to create a religious experience from daily life. His ballads like Don’t Ask for Water, Oh Sweet Carolina and Damn Sam were spiritual. But my favorite song was Shakedown on 9th Street, which celebrated the vengeful side of ‘Merica. It may be a bit rockabilly but this album is baptized in the Delta’s soulful waters. I’m ready for another swim.

Beautiful record. Shame he's a wrong'un.

Fantastic! I saved this one!

Very good album. He can still fuck right off forever. 4/5

First time listening to this guy. Pretty solid. Right up my alley.

Solid 3.5. Rounding to 4 considering how iconic and great To Be Young is.

Beautiful album, really chill vibes follow the energetic open. Not Adams' best album, but fantastic nonetheless.

I went through a massive Ryan Adams phase around 2006 or so. I have since left that phase behind, but I do have a lot of nostalgia for this otherwise terrible man and his art. Definitely singing along with parts of this one.

Surprisingly good

Adams’s first post-Whiskeytown album is a stalwart of alt country and Americana. I think some of his best songs are on this album (To Be Young, Winding Wheel, Come Pick Me Up, Sweet Carolina) and it gets a major lift from the supporting talent (Emmylou, Dave Rawlings, Mary Louise Parker????). But there are some clunkers in here too. Emblematic of all of his catalogue really.

Great

I did in fact love this

Country ricks! 3.5->4

Damn! This is heartfelt music!

A surprise for me since I did not know Ryan Adams. Nice songs, nice singing, nice music.

This was a beautiful album. Soulful country, singer/songwriter, pop...folk elements. Big fan of this.

Överraskande bra! Amerikana Ska lyssna mer på.

Riktigt svängig singer song writing, skön röst. Stark fyra.

Lovely, but I like Gold better.

the slow songs make this album very sentimental and deep. It's easy to connect with the lyrics and very relaxing to listen to.

Quite nice background music

Ryan Adams is a piece of shit, but this album is classic 2000's Americana with a few nostalgic standouts. Standout Songs: "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)", "My Winding Wheel", "Oh My Sweet Carolina", "Bartering Lines", "Call Me On Your Way Back Home", "Come Pick Me Up", the rockabilly jam "Shakedown on 9th Street" The album features vocal contributions from Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Dave Rawlings, Kim Richey and Allison Pierce. Their haunting harmonies induce goosebumps. Dave Rawlings also has songwriting credits. The arrangements are simple, minimal, direct. Front and center are the lyrics and vocal performances. There's a painful sorrow conveyed in many of the songs, the weariness comes as a surprise from a guy in his mid-20's. It's not a perfect album. It's almost 52 minutes long, and I can pick a few songs that are weak enough to be cut. But the highs are so damn high. The length doesn't feel indulgent, but instead feels bloated. I can intellectually separate art from the artist, although I appreciate how music and singer/songwriter projects generally affect people on a more personal/emotional level. This is an exercise in grading albums--full stop--in the context of their genre, their era and their individual merits. It's not a platform to judge how much of an asshole Ryan Adams is. It's verifiable, he's an awful individual. However I'm here to judge his art. It's a solid debut solo album. It's where Ryan Adams peaks for me. He never quite hit this stride again. If someone's not predisposed to Americana or 2000's Alt. Country, I don't think this is going to convince them of the genre. However, I think it is a defining album of the genre for it's era. Although, twenty six years later, it's easy to scoff at the praise Adams received that made comparisons to Neil Young, Bob Dylan and other greats. Doesn't mean this album is bad.

Erg leuk, in de trein geluisterd en was erg kalmerend. Menneke ging soms wel net iets te hard op de mondharmonica maar had ook wel weer wat

Wunerbare schöne Musik die einläd zu träumen und auch gut für Romantik

This was a really great album. The intro already had me hooked and the rest was really perfect. Didn’t know Ryan Adams was an asshole until after I listened to it

A bit slow for me

Good

Went straight to the reviews before listening because - yup. Awful guy. Because I didn't see it mentioned in first dozen or so reviews: listen to Phoebe Bridgers / Motion Sickness!! Apart from all the controversy, and the artist himself, really good album.

gostei, primeira música é muito boa

Had enough on this list in the early goings to clearly indicate that it’s a “separate the art from the artist” situation, so, I shall continue to rate in the same spirit.

When I first looked I saw Bryan Adams.. so DOH! I am not familiar with this artist/album, as a great percentage of the offerings on this challenge. Like the voice; like the arrangements. Steel guitar adds depth to simple songs. Surprising myself that I actually really liked this one as far as country music goes. This one sounds like soundtrack to a good old western cowboy movie. Listened before? N Favorite tracks? My Winding Wheel, Oh My Sweet Carolina, Saved some tracks? Y ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really Like it, Saved some tracks

I really liked this. It feels more real than his later stuff, and I appreciate his take on rock country fusion. His sexy voice and harmonica riffs add some extra swoon. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would!

It sucks that Ryan Adams is such a terrible person, and kind of crazy now, because his older solo and Whiskeytown stuff are just amazing.

I really enjoyed this

now THIS is a harmonica i can get behind

Pretty great! Much better than I expected

I was like "man, I'm really digging this, I need to know more about the artist. Oh. Oh no. He's a horrible person." Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5 Artist as a person: 1/5

Calming.

Didn't previously know about but kind of dug it.

Maybe 5, needs a re listen. Amazing songwriting.

Nice. Will def listen again

I liked it

There's real mileage in doing the simple things well. A little country, a little folk, little rock, this album may not define a genre, but it does a great job of being a great breakup album. It will get in your ear, even the harmonica. Favorite track was Amy

My interest was immediately piqued when the album opened with a disagreement over Morrissey tracks appearing on certain albums. Overall, can hear the influence of artists like Wilco (Why do they Leave, especially) and Neil Young. Amy was an immediate standout for me. The album is very loose, laid back and eclectic. Which means it feels more like a collection of songs than a coherent album. Will likely check out more of his work.

Oh, Ryan Adams, we meet again … Thankfully, this is a total departure from our first meeting. I already knew and loved the song Come Pick Me Up and was hoping the album would have a similar tone. I was pleasantly surprised to find it does. The stripped-down feel is refreshing. The lyrics and vocals are authentic and supply what was missing on Gold: emotion. I am more connected to Adams’ voice because he is convincing; I can truly feel the heartbreak he’s entrusting to me as a listener. I’m shocked at how much I like this album. It goes to show you that an artist can surprise you, so don’t count anyone out completely.

Yee-haw

Heartbreaker is a standout in alt country, setting itself apart with self indulgent introspective tracks like winding wheel.

Aldri hørt på denne fra start til mål før, vært litt skeptisk. Men må innrømme at dette er bra greier.

Lots to love here, especially on the front half. From the melancholy lyrics to the excellent song-writing, a great listen.

Solid.

Too much harmonica

Revelation! Love this album, Ryan did Wasted Years on Californication which I knew but not of him. What a beauty, and yes, eff Morrissey.

3.6

I liked this a lot more than I like him

Took me by surprise - good listening!

If Gram Parsons and Bob Dylan had a lovechild, it would probably sound like this. Not all of his records are superb, but this one is. It is in no way original, but it doesn't have to be.

Da æ fikk opp det her albumet og trykka mæ inn på Tidal for å skru på avspillinga, så æ på sporlista og kunne kjenne hver eneste sang presse sæ fram i mæ. Da æ hørte refrenget på «Come Pick Me Up» brast æ nesten i gråt av rein nostalgisk hjertesmerte. Heartbreaker og Gold og Ryan Adams va blant de viktigste byggesteinan i den musikalske utviklinga mi på begynnelsen av 2000-tallet, blant de tjukkeste greinan, fordi det førte mæ videre til Whiskeytown og Gillian Welch, til Caitlin Cary og så videre og så videre. Likevel huske æ ikke katti æ sist hørte på Ryan Adams, fordi hver gang æ så mye som tenke på det får æ en ekkel smak i munnen. I rekken over mannlige artister som føkka det til for sæsjøl og for min glede i å høre på dem e kanskje ikke Adams den som e objektivt verst (det e dog tett i bunnstriden der, dessverre), men han e muligens den som smerte mest, reint personlig. Og æ høre dem som sier «men du må jo bare skille kunsten fra kunstneren, null stress» og det e sikkert fint for dem som klare sånt, men det handle ikke bare om å ville unngå nokka som føles moralsk forkastelig, handle ikke om å være 'holier than thou' eller nokka sånt, det handle om at æ føle mæ ekkel når æ høre på han, på tross av de tyve åran med historie musikken vekke i mæ. Og æ gidd ikke høre på ting som får mæ til å føle mæ ekkel sånn på jevnlig basis, så da blir det ingenting. Og på den ene sida føles det litt som et tap når æ vende tilbake til det her albumet i en setting som det her, men på den andre, det e ikke min feil at Adams ikke kan oppføre sæ som folk, så æ orke ikke ha dårlig samvittighet for å ikke ville bruke mer tid og energi på han enn æ har gjort. Kanskje æ en dag kan høre «Call Me on Your Way Back Home» og bare hvile i melodien igjen, men det blir ikke med det første; heldigvis finnes det så mye anna bra å høre på.

Beautiful album. Really enjoyed it.

Very pleasant listen. I like slow pacing albums. I liked come pick me up. His voice suits the music very well. Not over or under produced. Ed Sheeran sounds like him just a little bit.

I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. Sweet Carolina made me miss home, and Come Pick Me Up was beautiful. Some variety, but slightly cheesy at some points. Still I would listen to it again.

Gostei da sonoridade desse ótimo álbum de um músico que eu não conhecia. Preciso ouvir com mais atenção. A faixa To be Young me surpreendeu com um ritmo dançante mas uma letra melancólica. 8/10

This guy took some turns into the ditch and didn't work out for him as well as it did young Neil Young. Some bits are very derivative, the subterranean homesick blues is instantly recognizable, and other songs have a lot of hints. Still he wrote some damn good songs, and I've a lot of nostalgia as I think old bands have played 3-4 of them. And he got some fucking heavy hitters to guest. Jesus gillian welch backup singing occasionally emmylou!!?!? David Rawlings is the lead. Can't fail with a team like that.

The album is a 4, shame he’s an ass

Альбом хорошо, тем более для 2000 года, но лично для меня, иногда губная гармоника была не к месту

Pretty great easy listening, but it definitely feels like a freshman outing

liked 2

Not a bad album by any means, but I much preferred "Gold".

I enjoyed this more than expected… lyrically it holds onto you reminds me slightly of Jeff Buckley without of course the soul crushing soul searching lyrics but I liked the story telling I even downloaded two songs surprisingly

To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) Oh My Sweet Carolina Call Me on Your Way Back Home Come Pick Me Up

4.5

There might be a bit too many quiet, acoustic tracks on here, but mostly this is an album I love. 4.5 stars

I do have a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in this one, but I also happen to think it is a killer record. I understand it's probably not a 5 for everyone but I think it is very close for me - giving a 4 though. To Be Young is one of my favourite tracks of all time, and there is so much feeling and 'real'-ness in this record. It really connects with me.

Oh man I really like Ryan adams! And this was a really good album by him! I've never listened to this one before but I quite enjoyed it!

The prodigy goes solo. A classic.

"I won't say Adams is the best North American singer songwriter since Neil Young... but I won't say he isn't either"- Stephen King When I saw that 'Heartbreaker' was my 'album of the day' I let out a loud "NO!" prior to this album I knew Ryan Adams from his old band the No Depression favorites Whiskeytown as I had heard the odd song here and there by them. I liked them well enough, I guess but never enough to buy an album by them. I also knew a few songs by Ryan Adams and truth be told I just found the few songs I had heard to be a bit boring- my expectations were low for 'Heartbreaker' I thought it would suck in a sucky singer songwriter way a genre I have a love/hate relationship with. I was worried, I guess. I needn't have worried. Heartbreaker is a pretty solid album. It's a little too long and sometimes the songs sounded too similar but that's OK because they are all good songs. I'm not about to take a deep dive into his back catalog (30 studio albums & 11 EPs!) but I'll happily listen to a few more before I die not because I have to but rather because I want to. Ryan Adams recently turned 50 years old. I imagine that he will release another 30 albums before he leaves this mortal coil and if that makes Stephen King smile who am I to not smile too.

Overall a gentle experience, with a few heavier songs to break. It was enjoyable, but a bit too long and repetitive in the end.

I really like this. It reminded me of Peter Case.

ok, if I was rating based on what I've heard about Ryan Adams as a person, it would get a 1 star. But this is pretty good music.

Nice Americana

The style is really nice and pleasing to listen to

Yes, Ryan Adams is a predatory arse....but then so are a plethora of artists on this list. Ryan Adams, Just like Arcade Fire etc etc etc, I might still listen to the music I own already, but will not support them going forward. So in light of this I listened to this album from my own digital version. Said my piece now let me get onto my review Ryan Adams represents an incredibly prominent place in my music discovery. During the period from around 98 to 2001, I had pretty much stopped listening to music entirely when I got married and we had our first child. My brother then gave me a mix CD of music, and on that was a few songs from Ryan Adams, The flaming Lips and a few other I dont remember. Listening to that CD literally changed the progression of what I listened to. Not only did I get back into discovering the music I loved, but Ryan Adams also opened my eyes to deep diving into country music which I had rejected my entire life before that. About the album. It is familiar, and i own it. Starts off well with to be young , and then straight into the incredible winding wheel. Sweet Caroline with Emmylou is just sensational. Damn Sam and Come pick me up keep the tempo of the album. If I had to make one negative comment, is that here is too much reliance on the harmonica, and it maybe dies a little near to the end with the exception of in my time of need. I prefer Gold, but this is a solid debut album. 4 stars. He is still a cunt though

Goed album. Melodieus, leuk maar net iets te rustige singer songwriter voor mijn smaak

I am a fan of Ryan Adams' early albums, but never connected as much with this one as I did with Gold. Still, it's a lovely collection of beautifully written songs. And harmonica. I'm a sucker for harmonica.

This came off as influenced by Bob Dylan's music - there were definitely quite a few similarities throughout. I liked his voice in comparison to BD.

Hoe kalm is een fruitkraampje in New York eigenlijk? Nooit gedacht dat ik me dat ooit nog zou afvragen. Verder roept deze Ryan Adams (niet te verwarren met zijn Canadese bijna-naamgenoot die ooit de zomer van '69 bezong) niet veel vragen op. Gewoon lekkere kalme countryrock met een zondagochtend-vibe. Prima hoor.

Ik weet niet of het nog mag, nu hij gecanceld is, maar ik vond de eerste twee albums van Ryan Adams, ook al was het redelijke snobmuziek, best aardig. Gold hebben we al gehad en werd door mij beloond met een fijne 4, nu krijgen we het debuut. Het is van hetzelfde laken een pak, country en blues. Of roots rock zoals wiki het ook wel omschrijft. Ik kan hier altijd met veel gemak naar luisteren. Er wordt lekker op de gitaar gepield, zijn stem had nog iets doorrookter mogen zijn, maar gezien de hoes was hij daar op zich wel aan begonnen. Zijn stem heeft iets weg van de zanger van de Goo Goo Dolls, om nog maar eens met een 90s one hit wonder te smijten (Iris, prachtig nummer). Net als het vervolgalbum, mag dit van mij ook 4 sterretjes hebben.

Dylan-esque, but in a way that suggests an understanding that he is a student and not a copycat. Well learned.

Chill album. I liked it

A consistently good album with a couple really good songs. 4 stars or B.

Great album, trash human being

It's fine

C'est essentiellement Bob Dylan meets Jeff Buckley, mais du coup c'est fort sympathique.

Альт-кантри я люблю более готичное и мрачное. Но альбом хорош.

I had never heard of this musician, but I had reviewed another one of his albums on this list a while back. I really liked that one too, but didn’t realize this artist had such questionable character. It’s really disappointing, because even though I like this album and the one before it, I won’t support this artist. Even though I’m not crazy about his voice, I really do like the songs and the style of music. Just rating the way I feel about the album and not the artist, I gave it four stars.

Decent modern country, varied and sincere

(A NOTE: I am aware of the allegations made against Ryan Adams. He's very shitty for those, and even more if they're true. Nothing I say in this review/babble is intended as an endorsement of him as a person — just as, conversely, the allegations do not factor into my overall review. After all, I review music, not people. Keep that in mind. Thank you.) Uh... Yep! That's country music alright. As I've expressed many times before, I am not particularly about my country music, and this is very much included in that. Sure, it's a bit more modern than the stuff I'm usually talking about, but I'll tell you, it still feels pretty... Y'know, old school and traditional. I'd say all it's missing is the pedal steel and the fiddle — though I guess the harmonica that pops up every now and then makes up for that. I mean, really, I'm finding that I don't even have much that I wanna say about this album. Ryan's a fine enough singer, I like Emmylou popping up for backing vocals, the instrumentation's all fine... I guess it's a bit moodier than I'm used to, though it **is** a break-up album, so I can't be too surprised. Besides, it's not as if country weepies aren't a thing, y'know? Really, I'm just mostly surprised by how breezy this is. I'm writing this review/babble a few couple of days after the Randomizer gave it to my group, and in the time since there have been a **lot** of hour-reaching to hour-plus records that've felt their length, particularly the electronica ones. I was worried this would fall right into that camp, but, nah. Even for as sad and emotional as it is (not that I felt it, which might just be an AuDHD thing, I'unno), I never felt like the thing dragged. That's a definite plus in my book. So... Yeah, that's it already. I don't got anything else I wanna say. It's a fine, moody lil' alt. country album. I think I might prefer his follow-up to this just because of how much that reminded me of the SCRUBS theme, but this isn't bad either. Altogether not awful for a guy who before these albums I'd probably mistake for Bryan Adams — and maybe I still will, I'unno. We'll see.

Different style of country, but still good, nonetheless. Solid 4 Stars.

Didn't necessarily get a country vibe from this though it was more on the bluesy/folk side of things. I didn't really know of Ryan Adams before this, but he doesn't seem like the world's greatest dude. That said, this album has some really good songs that vary between up-tempo (To Be Young, Shakedown On 9th Street) to slower solo stuff (Oh My Sweet Caroline, Come Pick Me Up). Good variety and good production. Not every song was up my alley, but there was enough that kept me entertained and engaged. I land at about 3.5 stars for this one, but will round up to a low 4.

Some serious Dylan likeliness on display with To Be Young. But he sounds so much better and I do enjoy the twang of it. In general, I just really love his voice. Has a great husk to it. Super distracted throughout, but this was an extremely cozy listen. Going back for a second listen. Come Pick Me Up is just fantastic. I failed to listen any closer, but come away feeling just as warmly about the record. I think it fell a little flat to be an immediate 5, but it certainly could warm on me. For today, it sits at a solid 4.

Incredibly well written songs throughout the whole album. This is the type of country that I really enjoy listening to. One song in there was a nice bluesy number which had some sweet guitar. This was a great addition to this list. Had zero expectations going into this album and came out with a very high 4.

Ryan Adams is just not a nice person. From the public stories to even personal interactions from friends who have gone to his shows, he is mentally unstable and unlikeable. But, sadly, he makes really good music. It makes me feel bad to rate this so highly, and maybe it would have been even higher if he wasn’t such a raging douche canoe.

Starting the album with a bit of banter between friends is nice. I've been rewatching Scrubs and that has exposed me to a lot of 2000s soft rock. This album definitely has the late 90s and early 00s flowing through it. "Oh My Sweet Carolina" sounds SO much like "Land Locked Blues" by Bright Eyes. Quite a few parts of this album sound a lot like Bright Eyes. "Why Do They Leave" is another Bright Eyes sounding song. This album ran long but was enjoyable most of the time. Some of the songs were a little slow and dull, but many more were great. My favorite songs were "To Be Young" and "My Winding Wheel". Honorary mention to "Shakedown on 9th Street". 8/10

7/10 Enjoyable, and was a solid 4star, but outstayed it's welcome and got a bit dull. Ah, but I did enjoy it. Go on, have 4 and count yourself lucky

Regardless of what a piece of shit Ryan Adam is, this a great album, but not even his best album. "To Be Young" and "Come Pick Me Up" are definitely the highlights on here for me.

This will get a re listen. I'd always poopooed Ryan as it sounded to much like Bryan Adams, weird that isn't it. Struck me as what Dylan might have been if he could sing. Caught me off guard and I liked it.

Very good country

I had heard a few songs by Whiskeytown, but didn't know that Ryan Adams was in that band. I'd heard his name in the zeitgeist, and in general old-man fashion, just assumed he was all hat and no cattle and expected to find this album lacking in some way. But you know what? This is good music.

I had heard of Ryan Adams before today but I guess had never heard one of his songs because this was entirely new to me. Father John Misty before he was. Several tunes and lyrical content remind of Andy Hull as well - particularly during his brother bird era. Sweet Carolina, Don’t ask for water and time of need especially enjoyable. I listened to this while on vacation coast of Oregon with family so maybe extra generous but enough here to want to come back. 4/5

I like this despite bad press. A lot of emotion. Sweet.

My bias is I think alt Country is the most exciting thing happening in music right now. This album is a good and early representation. I hope to see more on this list in time!

A smooth and mellow Country-Rock album. Not my kind music but it was fun to listen to it.

Very tender, would listen to again.

It's music people, we're not reviewing the person. It's not a bad album, some good tracks, some bad. "Oh My Sweet Carolina" and "Come Pick Me Up" stand out for me. "In My Time of Need" is enjoyably melancholy.

The Good: We get to break hearts! The Bad: What if we don’t like to be mean? The Ugly: The 1* score by virtue signaling morons who are the end of modern society… So Ryan (ab)used his position of power to get dates… wow. To my knowledge he’s never been found guilty of anything illegal. Is he a prick? I don’t know the man. Is he full of himself? Yes, yes he is. I remember seeing the tv-show where he, together with some other musicians (one of them the guy from Crowded House), were talking about music and singing songs, and Ryan was being a prick indeed… then again, if memory recalls, Crowded House man wasn’t really helping the cause either. Anyway, we are here to bitch about an album, not the artist. Did I like the album? Well, I listened to it 3 times in a row, while I was working on a project, and there are several songs which I recall really enjoyed listening to, while the rest of the tunes were kind of filler material. I would give this album 3* normally, but I am going to crank it to 4* as I am sure I will want to listen to the album again at some point...

As someone new to Ryan Adams, I was really looking forward to giving Heartbreaker a proper listen—and it did not disappoint. If you're looking for a place to start with Adams, his debut album is absolutely the right entry point. Right from the beginning, the album grabs your attention. I loved the opening—a casual argument about two of Morrissey's greatest albums sets a perfectly offbeat, intimate tone. From there, the music only gets better. The first two tracks set the bar high. To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) bursts with energy, while Winding Wheel delivers a beautiful melody paired with heartfelt lyrics. As the album unfolds, it continues to impress, layering emotional depth with raw, rootsy instrumentation. I'll definitely be coming back to this one—it’s an album that invites repeat listens. Favourite songs: Winding Wheel and Oh My Sweet Carolina stand out as emotional and melodic highlights. Least favourite: Honestly, there weren’t any weak links. Every track brought something to the table. Album artwork: Moody and cool—perfectly in tune with the music inside.

Surprisingly good. I have heard the name but don't think I've listened to his music before

Great album

Fun, folk / rockabilly feel

Great album!

Still don’t have an answer to what there is to be done with these records. They meant something at one time and then the artist did something to ruin any connection you’d want to have with them and more importantly, their music. I have a fond memory of listening to a Ryan Adams live show driving across Kentucky one summer. I wasn’t a big RA fan, but liked Heartbreaker pretty much from the jump, yet never took a big plunge because, well, he seemed like a bit of a jackass (even though I knew him through friends and while yes, drunk jackass was an apt characterization, you’d be leaving out the loveable part). So, I was making my way through this long live set and bluegrass country and was absolutely floored by the version of Come Pick Me Up on there, enough I went back and devoured all of the Whiskeytown records even gave some of his many later solo records a try. And then, well, maintaining any association with his music became untenable. Nearly a decade on from metoo and canceling folks, my current feeling is DAMN WHAT A SHAME. But that’s a better place than “I cannot even stomach listening to this creep.” I don’t know what there is to be done about this in the long run, if he makes proper amends, how warranted they *all* were to begin with, and so on. There are lots of genuine assholes who make music we love, but we never got to learn about the genuine asshole part - that’s the ignorance is bliss argument. I believe in forgiveness and redemption, but it’s not up to me to grant So Many Men entree back into our good graces. But jeezus, what a talent. And damn, what a shame.

Never heard this album before. I enjoyed it. Really enjoyed the writing on this album. Definitely going to add this album to the rotation.

This is a beautiful album. Wonderful melodies, sad songs. It's a 4.5 because not everything is memorable, but it's fucking brilliant.

Tengo el sesgo de que es uno de mis artistas favoritos, y que por ser éste el primero de sus trabajos en solista lo tenga muy cercano al cora, pero la verdad si tiene algunas rolas muy sin embargo. Aunque "Oh My Sweet Carolina" salva todo el disco. Este disco está para iniciados, porque al escucha común, le va a sonar a una copia de Dylan y similares.

A beautifully heartfelt collection of songs from the country/roots rock singer. I learned *after* listening that the dude is apparently a massive creep, which definitely sucks, but I'm glad I could listen to the music prior to learning that information so I could judge it on its own... the songs are well written, and quite lovely at times. Reminds me a lot of the band Wild Rivers, of which I'm a big fan, so I could easily see myself coming back to this one. Or maybe I'll stick to Wild Rivers given that I now know the dude apparently sucks.

Beautifully aching Americana in this album. Oh My Sweet Carolina hits a sweet spot of longing country and folk/blues.

20 years ago this would have been a no question 5. The soundtrack to so many bittersweet memories. A few years ago, feeling betrayed by the artist, I may have awarded a 1. Now I feel like I can separate the album from the artist and my nostalgia. The songs are good. It could lose a couple of tracks and drop some harmonica. It's not a masterpiece exactly but it isn't far off, and deserves to be here.